News

A federal judge has extended a temporary restraining order preventing Ohio authorities from enforcing the state's ban on gay marriage against a couple as one of them nears death.

Judge Timothy Black extended the order on Tuesday. It had been set to expire in less than a week.

The order prevents state and local authorities from enforcing the state's gay marriage ban against John Arthur and James Obergefell of Cincinnati until Dec. 31.

Arthur is dying of Lou Gehrig's disease.

The couple, who married in Maryland last month, sued Gov. John Kasich and other officials to have their marriage recognized in their home state before Arthur's death so they can be listed as spouses on his death certificate and be buried next to each other.